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Topic: Wigmore Estate (Read 1643 times)

Nice suburb to live in when I was there back in '77 - late '79 before returning to Australia. I lived in Cambridge Rd which meant I had good access to the Spyglass and the Queens Head plus the Smallholders (?) Club...... AlanH.

An inspection was made yesterday of the first estate proposed to be developed by the British Garden Cities, Limited. This is the Wigmore Estate, with an area of 365 acres, lying between Chatham and Rainham. The scheme combines business with philanthropy. The ordinary capital, which is being privately subscribed, being supplemented by 5 per cent, debentures.

The site inspected yesterday still consists of fields and orchards, but in course of time it will contain a large though not overcrowded community. It is proposed to lay out parallel avenues 50ft. wide running north to south, and intersected by cross streets 40ft. wide running from east to west, thus cutting up the estates into blocks of about 10 acres each, which will be sold in lots of not less than a quarter of an acre,The avenues, cross streets, and houses will be known by numbers instead of names, thus: First avenue, Second street, Seventh avenue,&c.--on the American system, and each avenue and street will be planted with trees on each side. In the centre the company, when development of estates justifies the step, will lay out a large open space - about 20 acres - 1 as a park or green, surrounded by trees and provided with a fountain and band stand.The promoters have carefully studied garden cities at Bournville, Port Sunlight, and elsewhere, and have endeavored to adopt the best features of these colonies while striking out original lines in some directions.Sites for workmen's cottages will be specially arranged, but after much inspection of cottages of many kinds by experts, the company has decided to allow cottages to be built, and at a minimum cost of £240 each. The better class houses will vary in price from £300 to £500. Larger houses may, however, be built if tenants so desire, but the average price will be about £400.

The great saving of rents, together with the reduced cost of living through the possession of large kitchen gardens, should make this a very attractive place of residence as well for the population of nearly 150,000 already living in Chatham, Rochester, Strood, New Brompton, Gillingham, Rainham, and the neighborhood, as for London workers; and this saving, it is believed, would more than cover the cost of a season ticket into London.Eventually it is hoped that when the Chatham garden city is completely developed, the residents will be able to form their own council, which will take over the burden of the roads, avenues, parks, and public buildings on the estate, and undertake the local government of the district.

Daily Mail, 27 April 1906.

Among the selling points in 1906 were free life insurance, free law costs and no oppressive restrictions.